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Re: Pacers - Nets game thread

Either BBall or Brichard (I think) has said several times they would like to see Saras start for several games and see how we do. Right now, he is just on too many egg shells psychologically. We need someone like him to lead the team and fuel the offense.

He is the kind of guy who will make mistakes here and there. He needs the freedom to do so. We need to see, Carlisle needs to see, if in the long run Runi's overall play helps bring the team to that next level we so desperately need.

We still don't know if he can do that. Anecdotally, to me, it looks like he can. If he can't fine. But let it be shown for a fact. We did, after all, spend a few million to bring the guy here.

Re: Pacers - Nets game thread

Either BBall or Brichard (I think) has said several times they would like to see Saras start for several games and see how we do. Right now, he is just on too many egg shells psychologically. We need someone like him to lead the team and fuel the offense.

He is the kind of guy who will make mistakes here and there. He needs the freedom to do so. We need to see, Carlisle needs to see, if in the long run Runi's overall play helps bring the team to that next level we so desperately need.

We still don't know if he can do that. Anecdotally, to me, it looks like he can. If he can't fine. But let it be shown for a fact. We did, after all, spend a few million to bring the guy here.

Re: Pacers - Nets game thread

this game was lost in the first quarter or something..

that's where I can feel Bird's words - comebacks are a rarity in NBA and that takes some fun out of it. but generally that was probably a pretty good game, Pacers won 3rd and 4th quarters against a very solid team, away, and without some key starters. he stats are ok (slight trailing in rebounds though), but Jackson missed too many shots in the begining (1/8 if i remember correctly) while Granger was almost invisible with 1 rebound, 2 points, 2 assiststs and 2 turnovers in 22 minutes. free throws were poor as well.
Saras had a reasonably good night, but coach got scared when he lost a few balls in the begining. it turned out he was pretty solid afterall and the difference would be much biger if it wasn't for him in the last quarter. imho.

The Nets returned home after their 0-3 road trip to find an ideal opponent in the Pacers, who began the day tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference behind Detroit and Miami, but were missing Jamaal Tinsley (elbow) and Jermaine O'Neal (ankle) to injuries. Indiana also has not had the services of forward Ron Artest since last month when he publicly asked to be traded.

Despite playing without enough healthy bodies to have a five-on-five scrimmage, the Pacers hung with the Nets until the final minutes, at one point whittling a 17-point deficit to six (60-54) early in the third quarter.

New Jersey pulled away again, taking a 76-61 lead on a jumper by Kidd followed by his fifth 3-pointer of the game and leading 77-65 at the close of the quarter. But Indiana gradually pulled closer again in the fourth quarter and trailed 81-75 on a drive by Fred Jones.

Krstic and Carter then scored eight points sandwiched around a free throw by Croshere and the lead was back to 13.

Indiana closed to 94-89 on Sarunas Jasikevicius' drive with 21 seconds left, but Carter made one of two free throws and Croshere's 3-point attempt rimmed out.

The Nets raced to a 31-19 lead after one quarter as Carter had 11 points and Jefferson showed his back was up to the challenge with a dunk over Danny Granger. Indiana closed the gap to 37-35 in the second quarter on the second of consecutive 3-pointers by Jasikevicius, but Carter and Kidd led a 21-8 run to the end of the half to give New Jersey a 58-43 lead.

Notes

Kidd has made four 3-pointers in a game four times this season. His career high is eight ... O'Neal sprained his left ankle in the second quarter against Chicago on Saturday night. Tinsley has missed several games with a torn biceps and elbow soreness ... An MRI revealed that Nets G Jeff McInnis suffered torn cartilage in his left knee against Dallas Saturday night that will require surgery ... The Nets are 19-0 when leading after three quarters this season ... Indiana last scored 100 points against the Nets on Dec. 21, 2001, 14 games ago.